Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Greetings, dear ones.

I think Kaden wants to join me on a jog. I may modify that plan and try out a bike ride with him in the kiddy seat. The sad fact is, however, that our roads around here are not very accommodating to bike riding.

Becki and I have a plan to take off tomorrow morning on a trip to Montana…maybe be gone a week. The main objective is the 50th Wedding Anniversary for Dave and Dolores Selig…Becki’s brother. That being the case, I can’t be sure how regular I will be with these devotional transmissions. We’ll see.

A big day is just getting started. May the Lord add His blessing to ours…and yours.

Love, Dad/Ray.

This topic of ELECTION can present some major difficulties, and some seem to struggle to the point of stumbling—even falling. However we choose to slice it, I cannot accept that God arbitrarily selects (predestines) some to be saved and some to be lost—some for eternal life and some for destruction—as though He were flipping a coin over every individual—“Heads, you’re in. Tails, you’re out.”

As I sort through the data and information we have before us, the matter of being called is huge. But it doesn’t need to be complicated. The call is general and universal (Romans 1:18-20). We can even say that ALL ARE CALLED. The Kingdom of God is a standing invitation. But being called is certainly not equated with a required or desired response. If I’m called to supper, but don’t respond, I can’t eat. Duh. And if I call my dog when he is all consumed with his dog stuff of going after a rat under a pile of lumber, he simply will not come. Duh. “For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14, KJV). Why? Because only a few are willing to choose His choice—with a will to make their own pursuits subservient to His.

Over and over the Bible confirms that God wants to have mercy toward those who respond to His love call, those who will repent and believe in His Son, Jesus, as their personal Savior and Lord. And He wants to confirm the value of this amazing LOVE GIFT by prescribing quite the opposite toward those who respond opposite—hardening those who refuse to repent, those who choose their SINFUL NATURE over His provision and opportunity to “participate in the DIVINE NATURE” (2 Peter 1:4).

May I also recommend that you review Romans 2:4-11. “Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance? But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God will give to each person according to what he has done. To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil; first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism.”